Charlie Woods is gearing up for one final ride with Benjamin golf.
As the high school golf season begins this week, Woods and fellow senior Andrew Tsar, The Palm Beach Post's reigning Small School Co-Players of the Year, return to lead defending state champion Benjamin in pursuit of another FHSAA title.
It has already been a memorable high school career for Woods.
Last season, he played at the top of Benjamin's lineup and shot a 4-under-par 68 during the second day of the Class 1A state championship, the lowest round recorded that day. His performance helped the Buccaneers rally for the program's second state title in three years.
Benjamin returns one of the state's most accomplished senior classes. Woods committed to Florida State earlier this
year, while Tsar and Brooks Colton are set to continue their golf careers at Southern Methodist University.
"That takes all the pressure off to make you play well," veteran Benjamin coach Toby Harbeck said. "I don't like saying we're playing with house money, but you know, the pressure's off them. We'll just see how bad they want it."
Even without the burden of unfinished business, Benjamin enters the season as one of Florida's top championship contenders.
The Buccaneers return much of the lineup that captured last year's Class 1A title, with Woods and Tsar once again occupying the top spots in the rotation.
Benjamin will test itself against many of the state's premier programs before the postseason, including Circle Christian Academy, Lake Highland Prep and American Heritage-Plantation. The Buccaneers also have tournament trips scheduled to Fort Myers and Orlando.
Woods, the son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, has been a central figure in one of the most successful stretches in program history. He helped Benjamin win state championships during his freshman and junior seasons and reach the state finals as a sophomore. Another title this fall would give him three FHSAA championships in four years.
Still, Harbeck isn't interested in celebrating past accomplishments.
"We've got to put it in our minds that we're going to try to be better than we were last year," Harbeck said. "That's the message I'm going to send to them, and we'll find out as the season goes on."
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Charlie Woods begins final high school golf season
